BJP betrayed people of Jammu region: JKNPP

Jammu, Apr 14: The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) has accused BJP of betraying the people of Jammu region with its "shameless surrender" to the PDP-led government on the AIIMS issue.

"We condemn BJP for its Machiavellian politics. Having already made ideological retreat on several issues, its betrayal of Jammu region has assumed monstrous proportions with its shameless surrender on AIIMS issue," JKNPP Chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here today.

Singh said in its desperation to become a junior partner in the PDP-led government, BJP has not only sacrificed its age old ideology and solemn pledges but indulged in the most deceptive and obnoxious deal by bartering away the interests and aspirations of Jammu region.

He said his JKNPP would continue its protest against the move to establish AIIMS in Kashmir instead of Jammu, and appealed to the people and other political and social organisations to join the stir. He also claimed this year's state budget had neglected the Jammu region. Dismissing reports that AIIMS was sanctioned for Kashmir, Singh claimed the Union Finance Minister on February 28, 2015 in New Delhi had "categorically and in very unequivocal terms announced its establishment in Jammu".

He said Union Minister Jitender Singh, who hails for the state, had also issued a statement on February 28 thanking the Finance Minister "for having sanctioned AIIMS for Jammu and Institute of Film Production (IFP) for Arunachal Pradesh". "It was shocking to note as to how the BJP partnered government in Jammu and Kashmir allowed the prestigious project to be transferred to Kashmir," the JKNPP leader said.

Describing the recently concluded session of state legislature as "a damp squib", Singh claimed no important issues pertaining to Jammu region was raked up during the session generating "a feeling of unrest, discontent and disappointment amongst the people of the region".

He said all poll promises of BJP like empowerment of Jammu, delimitation of assembly constituencies and end of discrimination against Jammu region fell flat, while PDP embarked upon its agenda from day one with announcements of holding talks with Pakistan, Hurriyat and separatists, and phasing out of AFSPA.

PTI